The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts C60 Kingpin bushings

On a '66 C60, do the kingpins have to be reamed to size? Can I use a brake cylinder hone to do this?

Chances are they do need to be reamed after they are pressed in.
Your best bet is to take the spindles with bushings installed, and the king pins, to an automotive machine shop and have them hone or ream them to size.

You will most likely have a difficult time with a brake cylinder hone.

Part of having a shop do it is they should ensure that the two bores have the same centerline. If you do them one at a time with a brake cylinder hone you can't ensure they have the same centerline. And if they don't then once you do get the pin to fit, the bushings will loosen up sooner than a properly reamed set.

Grigg

Coyote,

Grigg explained it perfectly. I'll add this to muddy the waters. The pin must fit the axle eye with a very nice fit. If this isn't true, then oversize pins are required, and the axle eye must be precision reamed to the pin for this nice fit.

This hasn't even addressed the bushings in the spindles yet. These must be pressed in, then the procedure Grigg mentioned is performed on them.

For a front end rebuild, two fits are involved..pin to axle eye, and pin to bushing.

Oversize pin sets are made to repair wallowed axle eyes.

Stuart

I haven't pulled them apart yet. So...
Are the pins stationary in the axle with the bushings pressed in the top and bottom holes of the spindle assembly?
If so, then i can remove the spindles and take them to a machine shop with new bushings. (provided the axle hole is not worn)

For some reason I thought the bushings were in the axle. Need to take a closer look today.

Who stocks bushings? Parts guys here are running when they see me come in. They know that means they will have to pull a book. I usually try to find the oldest guy working. Young employees can't seem to operate the book.

Yes the pins are locked in the axle with a lock pin. The whole thing comes in a kit with pins, bushs, lock pins, thrust brgs., & all ness. parts. Any parts man should be able to look it up & get the parts from the warehouse. It,s called a king pin set.

coyote,

For a quick tutorial to answer any lingering questions on this subject, there is a nice Tech-Tip on king pins on this site...look in Tech Tips.

Stuart

Thanks. I sorted it all out this afternoon.

I did check the Tech Tips and performed a search. I just wasn't sure the big bolt axle was the same as the pdf file posted.

The truck is 30 miles away at my ranch. Not real easy to 'just run out and take a look'.

It appears the left side is in good shape. The right hand however may have a worn pin bore. Lots of slop there. I have it all soaking in PB.

Wrenchbender, What warehouse? Parts guys around here act like if the cash register doesn't have a picture of a cheeseburger on the buttons then they're lost.
One nearby Napa was helpful but they closed up last week.